HEFCE announce funding boost for Routes into Languages

HEFCE has announced a £1.2 million funding boost to support the Routes into Languages programme.

For the full story see the HEFCE press release or the THE:

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2011/lang.htm

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=417117&c=1

Obituary: Nancy Wake SOE servicewoman

During the second world war, the servicewoman Nancy Wake, who has died aged 98, became known as "the White Mouse", a nickname given to her by the Gestapo for her elusiveness. In the run-up to D-day, Wake, who was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE), which was eager to recruit French-speaking women to serve as couriers.

Guardian

ISRAEL: Lawmakers seek to drop Arabic as one of Israel's official languages

The bill redefines basic consensus regarding the character of the state. For example, it also proposes that Hebrew would be the only official language in Israel, as opposed to the present situation - based on current mandatory law, Arabic and English are also recognized as official languages.

According to Elkin, the law is intended to give the courts reasoning that supports "the state as the Jewish nation state in ruling in situations in which the Jewish character of the state clashes with its democratic character."

Haaretz.com